NBA Draft and The Church

(posted by Erik Raymond)

With the NBA draft set for tonight I did a little reading to see what my beloved Celtics might be up to. After watching Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge talk a bit about their lack of optimism of getting anything of value with the 28th and 55th pick I was a little discouraged. I tried to pick myself up by remembering that they snagged Rondo late in the first round back in '06 and Perkins in '03.

But I kept hearing Ainge's discouragement. There really isn't much in terms of talent that you could build a franchise around. Basically, he is saying that he hopes that the C's can get some decent practice players. This doesn't bode will for the immediate future.

The draft, of course, is pivotal to the long-term success of the team. Organizations need to draft well, develop players, and make quality free-agent acquisitions. In short, they have to evaluate and develop talent.

Think with me about how this intersects with the church. As much as I like the Celtics they do not compare in terms of importance or impact with the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is not just Jesus' 'squad' it is his bride.

But who is it made up of? What type of talent?

Remember, it is the church that is made up of the “not many wise, not many noble, not many mighty” according to the flesh (1 Cor. 1.26). We are not a group of people who possess all of the skills, power, and stuff that is esteemed by men and this world. What’s more, in ourselves there is nothing to be commended! In fact, God uses this fact as an occasion to boast in his infinite and unfailing power! (1 Cor. 1.27-29)

At the end of the day, the church is not made up of natural powerhouses and phenoms. Instead it is made up of varied demonstrations of divine power, grace, and love that serve to magnify God’s glory while extinguishing human pride. To use the basketball analogy: we are a bunch of uncoordinated guys who dribble the ball off our feet and can't make a lay-up (spiritually).

But yet, the church is the most important organization on the planet. It is the church that is the exclusive means of glorifying God through Christ Jesus. It is the church that is the guardian of the gospel. It is the church where lives are changed as people meet Jesus. It is the church that Jesus died for. And all of this is informed by the fact that the church is nothing in and of itself, but is gloriously unique because of who Jesus is and what he has done in and through his church made up of men and women who are weak according to the flesh. O’ the wisdom of God in exalting his power in and through the gospel.